Heating apparatus.



H. 0. MALLORY.

HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED IBB.8, 1907. RENEWED JULY 26, 1910.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

2 SEE TB-BHEET 1.

mvsuron A; ATTORNEY H. G. MALLORY.

HEATING APPARATUS;

APPLICATION FILED IBB.8, 1907. RENEWED JULY 26, 1910.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

2 BHBETS-SHBBT 2.

INVEN T01? WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY C. MALLORY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HEATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 8, 1907, Serial No. 358,818. Renewed July 26,1910. Serial No. 573,844.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY C. MALLORY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing in New York, in the county of New York and State ofNew York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in HeatingApparatus of which the following is a true and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a partthereof.

My present invention relates to means for regulating the heat radiatingcapacity of a heating device and the primary object of my invention isto provide automatic regulating mechanism which will be simple andreliable in operation and will properly respond to the varyingconditions of service.

In carrying out my invention I employ a thermostatically actuated valvefor controlling the flow of the heating fluid through the radiator and Iinsure a proper operation of the valve by subjecting thethermostatically actuated mechanism to a wide temperature range thusinsurin an amout of expansion and contraction su cient for properoperation.

In the preferred forms of my invention I employ a radiator having a lowpressure return conduit and use my regulatin valve to control the escapeof the heating aid from the radiator into the escape conduit. With thisform of apparatus I utilize the difier- 'ence between the pressure inthe escape conduit and that of the atmosphere to create a flow by thethermostatic mechanism to cool it, of a stream of relatively cold airwhich may be drawn from a suitable source, as the room in which theheating device is located or the external atmosphere. In order to obtainthe desired wide range of temperatures acting'on the thermostaticmechanism I in-v sulate the expansible mechanism against heat derived byradiation or conduction from the radiator while allowing the mechanismtobe influenced by the temperature of the heating fluid allowed to escapewhen the controlling valve is open.

My invention 13 particularly adapted for use where the heating fluidapplied to the radiator is steam which escapes ordinarily in the form ofwater of condensation. With such an arrangement when the controllingvalve stays open long enough, all the water forms of myinventionillustrated I have provided means for obtaini a very effectiveheat transferring flow 0 steam by the thermostatic actuating mechanismwhen steam escapes from the radiator. This means is not claimed herein,however, but is claimed in my copending application hereinafter referredto.

To prevent the escape of the heating fluid through the thermostaticallyactuated mechanism when for any reason the heating fluid may besubjected to an unusual degree of pressure tending to create a back flowthrough the thermostatically actuated mechanism I have provided anon-return valve which readily permits the flow of the stream of air bythe thermostatically actuated mechanism but prevents a flow through themechanism in the opposite direction.

Another feature. of my invention consists in the provision of meanswhereby the expansion of the expansible portion of the thermostaticallyactuated mechanism more .than suflicient to seat the controlling valvewill not be attended with any injury to the expansible mechanism or thevalve or its seat. v

The various features "of novelty which characterize my invention arepointed out with articularity in the claims annexed to and orming a partof this specification. For a better understanding of my invention,however, and the numerous advantages possessed by it, reference may behad to the accompanying drawings and descri tive mat ter in which I haveillustrated an described forms in which my invention may be embodied.

Of the drawings; Figure l'is an elevation partly in section and partlydiagrammatic of a heat radiator and one form bf thermostaticcontrolling1 mechanism therefor which f may be employe Fig. 2 is asectional elevation on a larger sea e than Fig. 1 of the mainthermostatic controlling valve shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and t are viewssimilar to Fig 2 but each showing a form differing in some respects fromthe others. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 ofFigs. 2 or 4 and Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 6-6 ofFig. 2.

In the drawings, and referring first to the construction shown in-Figs.1, 2, 5 and 6, A represents the radiator or heating device which may beof any form suitable for use with hot water or steam as the heatingfluid. The heating fluid is supplied to the radiator at the top by meansof the supply pipe or conduit A through the coupling A and escapes fromthe lower end through the coupling A which leads to the lower end of thethermostatically actuated valve mechanism B, which controls the escapeof the fluid from the radiator. This mechanism consists-of a valvecasing C having an inlet port C connected to the coupling A and anoutlet port C A tubular valve seat member C which is closed at its lowerend except for the hereinafter described ports C and C and which isthreaded externally at 'its upper end is screwed into a threaded openingC formed in the upper end of the valve casing. The lower end of themember C3 fits tightly against the wall of the casing C immediatelyabove the outlet port 0 I i 'From thebottom wall of the valve seatmember rises a boss C having a recess C d formed in its upper side.Ports C extend through the wall of the member C from the inlet side ofthe valve casing to the recess C and ports 0 pass through the end wallof the valve seat member outside the boss C to the outlet side of thevalve casing.

Connection between the inlet and outlet sides of the valve casing iscontrolled by a valve D adapted to seat on the upper end of the boss Cand close the mouth of the recess C The valve D is connected with thelower end of a long tube'or hollow rod D formed of some material ascopperor brass having a relatively high coefficient of thermalexpansion,andthe seating of the valve D is controlled by the expansion andcontraction of the rod D In the form shown the valve D is secured totheend of a short stem D by a screw cap D having guideribs which engage theinner wall of the The upper end of the long tube or hollow rod D formedof some material as copper or brass,'having a relatively highcoefiicient of thermal expansion. The upper end of the rod D issupported by means of a nut D screwed on the threaded upper end of therod D or rather of a hollow extension, D of the rod, the nut resting ona support formed by the bottom wall ofa recess F formed in a cap memberF, which is supported by the upper end of a tube E, which surrounds themuch smaller ube D and the lower end of which is supported on the valvecasing C. As'shown the upper end of the valve casing C is closed by abushing 0* provided with a central aperture through which the rod Dpasses. A washer C of suitable yielding material forming a packing toprevent the passage of moisturealong the rod D through the bushing Cplaced in a recess C sur-- rounding the rod D The lower 'end of the tubeE which is outwardly flanged at E rests upon the upper side of thebushing C. The bushing C and the shell E are secured firmly to the valvecasing C by a screw cap C In order to limit the transfer of heat fromthe valve casing C to the expanding member D directly and through thetube E the bushing C is preferably made of some material having poorheat conductivity while at the same time having a sufiicient mechanicalstrength for the purpose such as from some compressed fiber compound.For this reason also awasher E which may be of the same material as thebushing C is interposed between the flanged end E of the tube E and theupper end of the cap C lVith the arrangement described the thermostaticmechanism is connected to and sup ported by the valve casing, but themembers C and E -unite to form a heat insulating barrier holding thevalve casingand the shell of the thermostatic mechanism out of directcontact with each other, and thereby perform a highly useful function bylimiting the transfer of heat by conduction from the valve casing to thethermostatic mechanism. To'still further shield the expanding member Dfrom the heat derived from the tube E as through radiation from theradiator, the space E between the tubes may be filled bya packing orjacket of material such as magnesia having poor heat conductivity,though filling this space with a jacket of dead air forms an effectiveprotection for the tube D When the rod D warms up and expands, the valveD is moved against its seat and closes communication between the inletand outlet sides of the valve casing C, but when the rod D cools, thevalve D is lifted off of the seat, opening communication between theinlet and outlet sides of the casing. The

position of the valve D at any instant de pends'on the temperature ofthe rod D, and the valve D acts therefore as a throttling valve indistinction from a valve which is either wide open or shut tight.

Buckling of the tube D or injury of the .valve or valve seat byexpansion of the tube in excess of that required to seat the valve isprevented by allowing the nut D to lift off its seat after the hollowtube D expands enough to move the valve D onto its seat. A spring Dextending between the cap D and a washer 0 bearing against the washer Csupplementing the action of gravity tends at'all times to hold the nut Dagainst its seat. The effective length of the rod D can be varied byturning the extension D in the nut D. To facilitate this adjustment, akerf D is formed in the upper end of the extension D and the nutisprevented from rotation by a guide-pin F carried by the cap member F.

The upper end of the recess or chamber F is closed by a screw cap memberF The tubular member D is cooled by a power actuated stream of air drawnfrom the chamber or recess F through the tube and discharged at itslower end into the valve seat member through lateral ports D.

In the radiator of Fig. 1, the outlet side 0 controlling the valvecasing is connected to an escape pipe or return conduit G in which avacuum or ressure below that of the atmosphere is maintained byconnecting it to the reservoir G which is connected to the exhauster Groperated by the engine Gf, the cold water or water of condensation fromthe radiator being drawn out of the reservoir Gr through a pipe G". Inthis form' of my invention the stream of air throu h the tube D* iscaused to flow into the plpe Gr by the difierence in the pressure in thepipe G and that of the external atmosphere.

In the valve shown in Fig. 2 air enters the chamber F throu h a valvecasing G having a valve seat 1 and a non-return ball valve G urged.against the valve seat by a spring Gr light enough to yield and allowthe 511F130 enter the valve casing on a very slight excess of thepressure outslde the valve seat over that in the chamber F but whichcauses the valve to rapidly seat itself and prevent the escape from thecus ing of steam or water which might otherwise occur incase of an unduerise of pressure of the heating fluid. A gauze washer Gr 'isplaced inthe inlet port G of the valve casing G to prevent the entrance of dlrtinto the valve casing.

The air drawn into the chamber F through the valve casing G may comefrom various sources depending on the character of regulation desired orthe means available. For instance, it may be drawn directly from theroom heated by the radiator. In many cases, however, I prefer to draw itfrom the external atmosphere as shown in Fig. 1 where H representspiping embedded in the apartment wall and leading from the externalatmosphere to the inlet port of a valve casing I, the outlet port I ofwhich is connected by piping J to the inlet port of the valve casing G.WVith this arrangement the air drawn through the member D is of thetemperature of the external atmosphere and hence the cooler the externalatmosphere and consequently the more heat necessary from the radiator,the greater the contraction ofthe member D produced by the stream of airblowing through it.

In many cases regulation of the flow of the stream of air through thepipe D is desirable and this is obtained with the construction shown inFig. 1 by the valve- I pivoted at I and controlling the port I betweenthe pipes H and J. A spring I constantly urges the valve I toward itsseat but the valve I is moved off its seat when necessary by the pilotthermostat K, responsive to room temperature, the outer tubular member Kof which having a relatively high thermal coeflicient of expansion,contracts when the room temperature falls and consequently causes thevalve to be lifted from its seat through the rod K having a relativelylow coefficient of thermal ex ansion. The members K and K are ad ustablyconnected together by means including an adjusting screw K at theirlower ends.

The thermostatically actuated valve B of Fig. 3 differs from that ofFig. 2 in the fact that the separate valve seat member G is dispensedwith, the valve D seating on the upper end of the boss C" rising fromthe partition C separating the inlet and outlet sides of the valvecasing. A port C passes through the boss connecting the inlet and outletsides of the casing when the valve is off its seat. In this valve a portD passing axially through the stem D and valve D takes the place of thelateral ports D of Fig. 2. The port D is controlled by a valve L carriedby a rod L having a relativelylow coefficient of thermal expansion, theupper end of which is enlarged and threaded to be adjusted into theupper end of the extension D which is internally threaded for thepurpose. Air is drawn from the chamber F into the tube D* throughlateral ports D". The rod L is soadjusted that the valve L engages itsseat and closes the thoroughfare through the tube D" when the valve Dmoves oil its seat, thus preventing the passage of air through the pipeD" when the valve D is open and also preventing the passage of steamfrom the valve easing into the tube D which may tend to cause the valveD to close too soon.

To some extent the valve L takes the place of the pilot valve I shown inFig. 1 and the valve of Fig. 3 is primarily intended for operationwithout any external pilot valve, though it may be used in the place ofthe valve B of Fig. 1.

The valve B of Fig. 4 differs from that of Fig. 2 principally in thefact that the tube D is surrounded by a tubular shell M secured at itsupper end to the cap F, with the space M between the tubes D and M openat its lower end to the interior of the valve seat member C and at itsupper end through grooves M formed in the under side of the nut D to thechamber or recess F3. This arrangement .is particularly adapted forapplication to a steam radiator in which the valve D controls the escapeof on to its seat to prevent further escape ofsteam from the radiator.In this form of my invention ports D andD connect the interiorsof tube Dand the valve seat member C No claim is made herein to the features ofconstruction and arrangement shown in Fig.

4 whereby steam issuing from the radiator outlet is caused to circulatein a definite man ner. along the thermostatic mechanism to cause thelatter to close the control valve, as this part of theinventiondisclosed herein is claimed in my co-pending application, Serial N 0.380,995, filed June 27, 1907.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a thermostatic valve mechanism the combination with a valve casingof a valve, a thermostatic valve actuating mechanism,

and a barrier of non-metallic heat insulating material all connectedtogether with said barrier llOlCliIlg said casing and actuatingmechanism out of direct contact and thereby thermally insulating saidmechanism from said valve casing.

2. In a thermostatic valve mechanism the combination with a valve casingof a valve,

a thermostatic valve actuating mechanism' comprising an expanding memberand a casing member, and a barrier of non-metallic heat insulatingmaterial, the valve casing, said casing member and said barrier beingall connected together ,with said barrier holding said valve casing andeasing member out of direct contact with each other and therebythermally insulating the latter from the valve easing.

3. In a thermostatic valve mechanism, the combination with a valvecasing provided with a tubular portion, a valve, a thermostatic valveactuating mechanism comprising an expanding member and a casing formedat one end with a flange, a cup member threaded to said tubular portionand provided with a portion taking over said flange and washers ofnon-metallic heat insulating material interposed, between the valvecasing and the said flange and between the latter and the said cupmember.

4. In combination a heat radiating device and regulating mechanismtherefor, including a valve casing having a port, a valve for said portand thermostatically actuated mechanism for the valve comprising anexpanding member and a casing, the latter being supported by, butthermally insulated from said valve casing.

5. In combination, a heat radiating device and controlling mechanismtherefor, including a metallic valve casing having a port, a valvecontrolling said port, a thermally expansible rod having one endextending into saidcasing and connected with said valve, a'metallie tubesurrounding the portion of said rod exterior to said casing and havingthe outer end of said rod con-. nected to and supported by it, and meansconnecting said tube to, but maintaining it out of direct contact with,the valve casing, said tube being separated from said rod by a spacewhereby the rod is shielded against heat from the heatradiating device.

' 6. In combination, a heatradiating device and controlling mechanismtherefor, including a metallic valve casing having a port, a valve forsaid port, a thermally expansible rod extending into said casing and connected with said valve, a bushing formed of material having poor heatconductivity surrounding the rod and insulating it from the casing, atubular member surrounding the external portion of said rod and havingthe outer end of the rod connected to it, said tubular member having anoutwardly extending flange at one end which engages said bushing, ametallic cap member C securing the bushing and tubular member to thevalve casing, and a washer E formed of material having poor heatconductivity inserted between the flanged end of the tubular member andthe cap member whereby the tubular member is maintained out of metalliccontact with the valve casing to diminish the transfer of heat from thevalve 110 casing to said expansible rod.

7 In combination a heat radiator and a controlling valve mechanismtherefor, said mechanism including a part having a valve seated port, avalve for controlling said 115 port, a thermally expansible membercontrolling the seating of said valve and a support for said member, andmeans connecting said member to said support arranged to permit saidmember to move in its support upon an expansion of the expansible memberoccurring after the valve has seated itself.

8. In combination a heat radiator and a controlling valve therefor, saidmechanism including a valve casing having a port, a valve controllingsaid port, a thermally expansible red one end of which is connected withsaid valve, a support, and means connecting the other end of said rodremote from that connected with the valve to said support arranged toaccommodate an ex-- panslon of the rod occurring'after thevalve isseated on its port by permitting movement of the rod relative to thesupport.

9. In combination a heat radiator and a controlling valve mechanismtherefor, said mechanism including a member having a port, a valvecontrolling said port, a thermally expansible rod one end of which isconnected with said valve and by the expansion of which rod the valve isseated, a support for the opposite end of said rod and means forconnecting said opposite end to said support to prevent movement of saidopposite end in a direction to carry the valve into the closed position,but permitting a movement of said other end in the opposite direction.

10. In combination a heat radiator and a controlling valve mechanismtherefor, said mechanism including a member having a port, a valvecontrolling said port, an expansible rod one end of which is connectedwith said valve, and having its other end threaded, a support having anaperture through which the rod passes, a nut carried by said threadedend of the rod and engaging said support to prevent movement of that endof the rod in direction to move the valve on to its seat, but permittinga movement of the rod in the opposite direction and yielding meanstending to hold the nut against the support. I Y

11. In combination a radiator, a source of heating fluid, a returnconduit leading away from the radiator, a valve controlling the flow ofthe heating fluid through the radiator, thermostatic actuating mechanismfor said valve, including a chamber or passage connecting a source ofsupply of a fluid thermal agent for acting on said thermostaticactuating mechanism to said return conduit, and a non-return valveautomatically opening to permit a flow of fluid through said chamberaway from said source, and closing to prevent a flow of fluid throughsaid chamber toward said source.

12. In combination, a heat radiating device. a low pressure escapeconduit, and mechanism controlling the flow of the heating fluid throughsaid heating device, including a valve casing having an inlet sideconnected to the heating device and an outlet side connected to theescape conduit, a

valve controlling communication between said inlet and outlet sides, atubular memher having one end connected to, but thermally insulated fromsaid valve casing, a rod of material having a relatively highcoeflicient of thermal expansion located within said tubular member, andhaving its outer end connected to the outer end of said tubular member,and its inner end connected with said valve. whereby the contraction ofsaid expansible. member opens said valve and its expansion closes 1t,said means connecting said tubular member and rod comprising a supportcarried by the tubular member having an aperture through which the rodextends and a nut threaded on the outer end of said rod and normallyresting against said support and a spring acting on the rod to normallyhold the nut against the support.

13. In combination a heat radiator and means controlling the flow ofheating fluid through said radiator including a valve ens ing having aport,- a valve controlling said port, a thermally expansible device foractuating said valve, expanded by the heat of the fluid passing throughsaid port and cooled by a stream of fluid thermal agent flowing by saiddevice, means for causing said stream to flow and means for insulatingsaid device from heat radiated or conducted away from said radiator.

14. In combination, a heat radiating device, a low pressure escapeconduit and mechanism controlling the flow of the heating fluid throughsaid device, including a valve casing having its inlet side connected tothe heating device and its outlet side connected to the escape conduit,a valve controlling communication between said inlet and outlet sides, atubular member connected at one end to, but thermally insulated from,said casing, a hollow rod of material having a relatively highco-efiicient of thermal expansion located within said tubular 100 memberand having one end secured to the outer end of said tubular member andthe other end extending into said casing and connected with said valve,the interior of said rod being open at its outer end to a 105 source ofair and at its inner end to the outlet side of said valve casing,whereby a thoroughfare for a stream of air is provided in said rod. anda valve automatically actuated by the contraction of said rod to close110 saidjhoroughfare.

15. In combination, a heat radiating device. a low pressure escapeconduit and mechanism controlling the flow of the heating fluid throughsaid device. including a 1 valve casing having an inlet side connectedto the heating device and an outlet side connected to the escapeconduit, a valve controlling communication between said inlet and outletsides, a tubular member having 120 one end connected to the valvecasing, a chambered end member connected to the other end of the tubularmember. a hollow rod. of a material having a relatively highco-eflieient of expansion, located within said 125 tubular member andextending between the chamber in said end member and said valve casingwith its bore forming a thoroughfare between the chamber in said endmember and the outlet side of said valve casing, 1

means connecting said valve with the corsaid chamber from said source,but preventresponding end of said hollow rod, said ing afiow in theopposite direction.

chamber havin a ort leadin to its interior from a source if a iluidtherm al agent under J HARRY MALLORY' 5 pressure greater than thatnormally in the W1tnesses:

escape conduit, and a non-return valve con- EDWARD J. HEsTER,

trolling said port and permitting a flow to O. G. SMITH.

